Friday, October 22, 2010

West hosts girls basketball clinic

Lapeer West's girls basketball program will host a clinic for all elementary school girls who want to improve their basketball skills.

The clinic will take place on Saturday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 30., at the Lapeer West gym. The cost is $20.

For details, contact West Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Bill Kinzer at bkinzer@lapeerschools.org.

A workshop on friendship

Is it difficult for your child to make and keep friends? Does your child struggle to get along socially?

Family Literacy Center will presents the workshop "It's So Much Work to be Your Friend" on Wednesday, November 2, from 12:30-2 pm or 6-7 pm at Mott College Lapeer Campus, Room 206, 550 Lake Dr., Lapeer.

Children who suffer with a learning disability often have difficulty in social situations. Whether your child has a learning disability or not, the information in this DVD presentation is priceless.

Educator, administrator, and consultant Richard Lavoie provides powerful strategies for teaching friendship skills in the classroom, home, and community. This workshop is offered at no cost. Registration is required.

To register, call the Family Literacy Center at 810-664-2737. Give your name, phone number, and the time of the session you wish to register.

Parent volunteers needed for 'Your Time'

Parent volunteers are needed for the "Your Time" After School study hall at Lapeer East High School.

The program runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 2:15 to 3:15 pm.

National Honor Society students are available to help with any issues that a student needs help with, and students have access to all elements of the East media center including books and computers.

Any interested parent may contact Parent Vounteer Bill Gavette at wmgavette@gmail.com, or call 810-417-1559.
Please note: Parent volunteers must go through a background check at the Lapeer Community Schools Administration Building.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Suspicious incident in Metamora Township

The following is the text of a letter sent to parents today from Superintendent Debbie Thompson about a suspicious incident yesterday in Metamora Township.

October 21, 2010

Dear Parents,
Today we became aware of a suspicious incident that was reported to the Metamora Township Police Department yesterday.
A female student was walking near Sutton Road and Metamora Road at about 2:25 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon and was offered a ride by a man in a newer, light-green pickup truck with an extended cab. The girl went to a nearby home and called 911.
The man was reported to be a clean-shaven, chubby white male in his mid-30s with short brownish-blond hair.
We are committed to protecting our students and know that you, as parents, will continue to teach your children how to best protect themselves and seek assistance if necessary. Please reinforce with your children the lessons about interacting with strangers and, of course, immediately notify the police or sheriff’s deputies if you see or hear anything out of the ordinary.
Sincerely,

Debbie Thompson
Superintendent

Mayfield 1st graders do some learning in the woods

First grade students at Mayfield Elementary School took their classroom research outside to gain a little experience in the field.

The students visited the woods at the R. Michael Supernault Environmental Center on Oct. 13 to gather woodland plants and animals to create their own mini habitats.


Under the guidance of Environmental Education Teacher Al Hoppe, Teacher Debbie Daley and some dedicated parents, students carefully gathered twigs and leaves to provide the needed environment for the bugs and critters they found living on the woodland floor.

The science lesson for the day included a review of the plants and animals that are found throughout the woods as well as building habitats – in clear plastic containers – to house the plants and animals they uncovered in their search.

The Supernault Nature Center is an 80-acre District-owned property in a beautiful, rural setting in Oregon Township. It is primarily used for science field trips for students from Lapeer and other area districts.

For a look at more photos from the field trip, go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/Mayfield1stGradersAtSkinnerLake#

A fresh, new look for the Seaton playground

Anthony Novick takes parental involvement seriously. His son, Joey, is a student at Seaton Elementary, and he wanted to do his part to help brighten the learning environment.

His crew from Color Wonders Painting rolled up to Seaton on Saturday, Oct. 16, to freshen up the playscape at the school.


With a bit of scraping and sanding and a healthy application of paint sprayed carefully from a large bucket, the Saturday-morning volunteer efforts brightened up the playground equipment and the basketball courts.

The paint company owner was joined by his wife, Jody, daughter Katie and employees James Keyes and Nathan Surbrook, as they added a bit of flair to the playground structures, recoating them in a popular “Seaton orange” color.

Novick’s crew was joined in the effort by Seaton parent Laura Fromwiller and daughter Renee.

For a look at before and after photos from the painting party, please go to:http://picasaweb.google.com/LapeerCS/AFreshLookForSeatonPlayground#

Mayfield Kids’ Boutique Oct 26 & 28

Mayfield Elementary School will host a “Kids’ Boutique” during parent-teacher conferences October 26 and 28.

The “Kids’ Boutique” will be a place to come in and shop for gently-used children’s clothing. Families can stop on the night of their children’s conference and shop for the clothing items their children need. The best part will be that the shopping is FREE!

Parents can help by donating clean, gently-used children’s clothing. Bring the clothes to Mayfield this week (through Friday, October 22).

The school is also looking for a number of parents who would be willing to help sort the clothing and set up on Monday, October 25th, and to staff the boutique during conferences. The boutique will be open the night of conferences, on October 26 and 28 from 5-7:30 pm, for Mayfield families to shop for items that their children need.

For details or to volunteer, please contact Kids’ Boutique Coordinator Cheryl Shifflett-Smith, Mayfield Learning Coach, at 810-667-2442.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Get fit: Winter Walking begins Nov. 1

The annual Lapeer Community Schools FREE winter walking program begins on Monday, November 1.

Join us at Lapeer West on Monday through Thursday nights from 5:30 to 7:30 pm as we walk for fitness and fun! Our quick registration is easily completed the first night you attend.

ALL walkers will wear a name badge (provided) while walking. Children under age 16 must walk with an attending adult. SORRY, no power walking, running or jogging. Please enter the high school using the door by the band room on the south side of building.

No walking on November 24 & 25, December 22 – January 2, January 17 & 20, February 21or “snow days.” If school closes earlier in the day because of inclement weather, the walking program is cancelled.

The walking program concludes on Thursday evening, March 31st.

The walking program is part of the Lapeer Community Schools Enrichment Program. Please do not call Lapeer West regarding this program. Questions can be directed to the Enrichment office at 810-538-1622.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Rolland-Warner CC course gets groomed

This parent smoothes out the ruts at Rolland-Warner

A few twisted ankles on the new Rolland-Warner Cross Country Course prompted Mike McClellan to take action.



He brought his Bobcat skidsteer to school Oct. 11 and spent the day working over the Cross Country course with a Harley power rake to get rid of all of the bumps and gullies along the 2-mile course that winds through the woods behind the school. He also sewed a little grass seed to prevent erosion and to help keep the course in shape in the future.

Math teacher Wyatt Stevens and science teacher Anne Prill coach the all-new cross country team. They explain that the power rake chewed up the top couple of inches to remove the ruts and bumps so that students weren't twisting their ankles any more. “We had multiple students down with injuries earlier in the season,” said Stevens.

“We really appreciate Mr. McClellan’s help. It’s made a huge difference in the course,” said Prill.

McClellan’s daughter Meghan is an 8th grader and a member of the R-W Cross Country team. Mike McClellan, the owner of M&M Construction in Attica, said he was happy to put in the volunteer effort to make things better for the 33-member team.


This is the first-ever season for Cross Country at the middle school, so many team members are setting new course records in almost every home meet. So far this year, the girls team has compiled an impressive 4-1 record. The boys stand at 1-4.

With the course improvements, the coaches say R-W hopes to be able to host invitational meets in the future, bringing in competitors from all over the Metro League.

Cutlines:
Mike McClellan (the guy near the left with the hat) gets a thumbs up for his efforts from the Rolland-Warner Cross Country team.
The all-new Cross Country team at Rolland Warner Middle School includes 33 runners in 7th and 8th grade.

Haunted Hallways this Saturday and Sunday at West

The Lapeer West Key Club will be sponsoring its annual Haunted Hallways located at the North entrance of Lapeer West High School.

The dates are Saturday and Sunday, October 23rd and 24th, from 9 am to 4pm. All ages are welcome, and the cost is $2 per person.

All proceeds will go to UNICEF.

Turrill Kids’ Boutique

Turrill Elementary School will host a “Kids’ Boutique” during parent-teacher conferences October 26 and 28.

The “Kids’ Boutique” will be a place to come in and shop for gently-used children’s clothing. Families can stop on the night of their children’s conference and shop for the clothing items their children need. The best part will be that the shopping is FREE!

Here is how the Kids’ Boutique will work: Clean out your closets and donate clean, gently-used children’s clothing. Bring the clothes to Turrill this week (through Friday, October 22).

The school is also looking for a number of parents who would be willing to help sort the clothing and set up on Monday, October 25th and to staff the boutique during conferences. The boutique will be open the night of conferences, October 26 and 28 from 3:15-4:15 pm and again from 5-7:30 pm for Turrill families to shop for items that their children need.

For details or to volunteer, please contact Kids’ Boutique Coordinator Cheryl Smith, Turrill Title 1 Teacher /Interventionist, at 810-667-2418.